A three-part seires on the fundamentals and business of urban farming will be held in October at the Texas AgriLife Extension Service office for Travis County, 1600-B Smith Rd. in southeast Austin. (Texas AgriLife Extension Service photo)
AUSTIN — A “Farming Fundamentals Series” will be presented by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service on three consecutive Wednesdays in October, said the agency’s agent for horticulture in Travis County.
The programs will be held from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Oct. 12, 19 and 26 at agency offices, located at 1600-B Smith Rd. in southeast Austin, according to Daphne Richards, program coordinator.
“This series will be helpful for home and small-plot producers, including those who grow to sell at farmers markets, who are involved in sustainable foods efforts or are interested in community gardens and other small-yield production,” Richards said. “It is particularly relevant and timely given the growing public interest in food production on small-acreage sites.”
She said series instruction will focus on various horticultural and business aspects of growing and selling vegetable and fruit crops.
“This time, all presentations will be made in person by AgriLife Extension personnel and by representatives of the Texas Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service and other agencies,” she said. “We’ve done a similar program in the past that also involved webinars, but decided this time we would provide direct, in-person instruction to attendees.”
The Oct. 12 program will address plant pathology, the economics of small-acreage production, vegetable production and product marketing. The Oct. 19 program will address the Texas Environmental Quality Incentives Program, organic certification, soils, fertilizers and composting. The Oct. 26 program will address planning a small-scale farming operation and will include an overview of fruit crops and community resources available to small-scale producers.
The cost for all three programs in the series is $125, and lunch is provided during each program.
Registration for the series must be done through the Texas AgriLife Extension Conference Services. Space is limited to 25, so attendees are encouraged to register as soon as possible, Richards said.
To register, go to the conference services website at https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu/ and use the keyword “farm” or call 979-845-2604.
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